Anubhav, Samal & Jena most punctual Odisha MPs

WINTER SESSION

Manish Kumar

New Delhi, Dec 16: Two Lok Sabha MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha seem to lead in the state in terms of attending most of the sittings of the recently concluded Winter Session of the Parliament, which was despite efforts by some parties failed to do much of the expected business.

In the Rajya Sabha,  BJD MP Anubhav Mohanty proved to be the most punctual as well as most responsible by asking the maximum number of questions in the Upper House. In the Upper House, the maximum sittings were attended by Mohanty who attended all the 21 sittings of the Upper House while following him was Independent candidate A V Swamy who was able to attend 19 out of 21 sittings. Moreover, Anubhav also asked the maximum number of 42 questions in the House which included both starred and unstarred questions, although many were asked only in the submission form which got written replies.

If the Lok Sabha attendance register is to be believed, Jagatsinghpur MP Kulamani Samal leads among all the Lok Sabha MPs from the state in terms of attendance as he successfully attended all the 21 sittings of the Lower House while Balasore MP Rabindra Kumar Jena attended 20 sittings while he was absent for a single day. Moreover, Aska MP Ladu Kishore Swain also attended 20 out of the 21 sittings of the Lower House.

The Winter Session of the Parliament ran from November 16-December 16 where a total of 21 sittings were held, most of which were lost due to heavy disruptions from the Opposition parties on the issue of demonetisation. However barring the cacophony of the House, the 21 Lok Sabha MPs from Orissa were able to raise some important public matter questions through the Zero Hour and the Question Hour.

Although not all the question listed in the daily Question Lists were asked due to frequent disruptions but all the questions were answered by the ministers concerned as written replies as per practice of the Parliament.

As per statistics of the Lok Sabha, the maximum number of questions in the Lower House including both starred and unstarred questions were asked by Jena who was able to seek replies to 41 of his questions while others who followed him included Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda who asked 26 questions while Samal asked 21 questions too.

Supported BJP earlier at a time of political crisis, says Baba Ramdev

Celebrated Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev who is also the face of Patanjali Ayurvedic Products is known for wearing his personal opinions on his sleeves. In an exclusive interview to at his Ashram in Haridwar, Ramdev speaks his heart out on issues like demonetization, Naveen Patnaik, plans to go global among others. Excerpts from the interview:

Manish Kumar

1. You have been holding numerous yoga sessions in different states for more than a decade. How you see Orissa from your perspective?

Ramdev: I have been visiting Orissa for the last 10 years. The state is the most gifted region in the country in terms of natural resources while it is a very important site in terms of religion. People of Orissa are honest and hard working. There are few who opine that Oriyas work harder when living outside their state, which is a false opinion. The land of Jagannath, possessing religious importance is also perceived as a state which has huge potential.

Also in our fight on economic freedom (against MNCs) Orissa has proved to be a spearheading state which is fighting hard to wipe out the Multi-National Companies (MNCs). We expect soon we can wipe out the MNCs from Orissa.

2: Different chief ministers have extended their support to you in the past either by offering lands to you for opening schools, hospitals or yoga training sessions. How much support you got from Naveen Patnaik?

Ramdev: Naveen ji is a very good person at heart. We maintain cordial relation with him. You must have seen in the past we never had any issues with each other. We also hope any future endeavors in Orissa are likely to be fruitful.

3: Any offers from Orissa government yet for land or support for your mission/business?

Ramdev: We have till now not talked on the issue but I hope if we would plan something we expect we can get good response from the government.

4: Mostly it is seen that the BJP-ruled states have extended you more support while not many non-BJP states have come forth. Do you think there is discrimination from the other side?

Ramdev: No. Recently Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav gave us 400 acres of land in a prime location in Noida. Our mission is not political, it is beyond that. Our mission is about giving the country economic freedom and all those who love their country are with us. Patanjali is a brand of the country, I am the unpaid brand ambadassor of Patanjali, Acharya Balakrishna is the unpaid CEO/MD of the same. If there is anything in the country which truly is a model of charity and trusteeship it is Patanjali.

5: You once started an agitation against the black money at the Ram Leela Grounds in New Delhi before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Do you think your agitation has brought tangible changes on the ground?   

Ramdev: Our main three objectives were black money, fight against corruption and revival of the corrupt system. For the implementation on ground levels, everything takes time. An agitation could be constructed in 10 days but bringing changes through an agitation at ground levels can take 10 years.

So accomplishing these three things would take some time but the intentions of Modi ji are clear and correct. He is working hard towards it.

6: Recently you alleged a scam in the demonetization process. How you seek to resolve the crisis due to demonetisation?

Ramdev: For making demonetization a success, we need to focus on four areas-firstly, there should not be any corruption in the banking system, secondly, RBI plays its entrusted responsibility honestly, thirdly, the taxation system works properly where it has to ensure the corrupt are not shielded and the honest common man is not harassed and lastly we need to change the attitude of the people.  

7: How you see the whole demonetization process?

Ramdev: Modiji with the right intentions has taken a very courageous and historic decision. But everything the Prime Minister alone cannot do. The system also needs to work in the correct path. If the above mentioned four segments work in tandem and with honesty, demonetization is going to be a success. Modiji is involved in making the system work properly. There are some challenges at the implementation level but slowly the issues are being resolved. But I feel problems of the problem due to demonetization are likely to persist even after December 30 this year.

8: It been a long time now since Patanjali came into existence. With the passage of time how you have tried to improve the quality of your products?

Ramdev: For the quality control three components are of paramount importance-raw materials, advanced world class technology and testing. Our raw materials are 100 per cent genuine and of high quality. We use world class advanced scientific equipment worth crores. We have around 200 scientists working with us. For testing our products we first try on ourselves before bringing in into the market. In India in the sector of Ayrurdevic production no one can mach to the level of infrastructure, equipment and skills of what we have.

9: But despite that allegations are sometime labeled against you on different fronts, the recent one includes court order of fines for Patanjali for misleading advertisements. How you see such charges?

Ramdev:  In the advertisement sector we are used to confrontations on an everyday basis. As far as the court order is concerned, we would appeal to the higher courts against it. If any small politician or individual with vested interests with such cases tries to lock horn with us we are not going to tow down.

10: With whom you face confrontations in the advertisement sector?

Ramdev: With the advertisement agencies. Representatives of the MNCs are sitting there. There are many rivals against them. I want to ask why there is hardly a single brand in India who had been able to rise against the MNCs in the last 70 years. It is because either they are suppressed or they are bought.

11: Are you planning to take your Ayurvedic products to the international markets too?

Ramdev: By 2017 we are planning to go global to sell our products to the international population. In Nagpur our production house where a part of it would be exclusively be dedicated to making products for exports is most likely to start functioning by next year. We are not focusing on few countries, we have eyed to export our products to across the globe.

12: Currently your products have entered the supermarkets through stores owned by Apollo, Future Group and Reliance. What would be your future steps to reach out to more people?

Ramdev: We have now entered in almost all modern popular chains. We are planning to have a full fledged extension now. We are now all set to venture into the online marketing through e-commerce sites in a big way to sell our products online by 2017.

13: You have been offering 500 products including recently releases Shishu products. What products are lined up next?

Ramdev: We are about to emerge in a big way into the dairy sector. We have aimed to launch out brand of textiles in the country by next year. In the textile sector we are planning to sell yoga wears, all Indian traditional wears, kids, ladies and gentswear and fashionable textiles.  

14: You have been teaching yoga for more than a decade. Do you see a rise in the number of your followers for yoga or it is stagnant/declined?

Ramdev: Many folds. And why it would not. What we do is directly connected to the people. Whatever we do either yoga or ayurvedic products, all are directly related and connected to the people. If you connect to the people it is definitely going to form a bond with them.

15: How you see the magnitude of your endevours in the next days to come?

Ramdev: In the next five years we are going to give direct employment to around 5 lakh people and connect around 5 crore farmers directly with us. And in terms of production it could reach to such a level that among the 125 crore people in Induia, all would be using atleast one of our products. This is the likely connectivity of people in the next five years. We have already reached half of the target now.

  

16: You have proposed the government of a Vedic Education Board in the country. Do you think this is feasible in the current scenario?

Ramdev: At the government level, these things are little bit tough. These are done through spirit. We are reframing from using the word ‘vedic’ now as it could give a false impression. We want an ‘Indian Education Board’ which could be a blend of modern scientific knowledge in addition to spiritual teachings. There will be a direct connectivity with the new world. Who would not like to get their kids admitted to these kinds of institutions? We are getting positive response from the government for the same.

17: In the past you had hinted about participating in politics. In future can we see you joining active politics?

Ramdev: At that time we asked for a better political alternative and I believe currently there is the alternative working at the central level. There is no question of me joining active politics. It was my Bhisma Pratigya (vow) not to accept any political position. But if the country is danger and I keep quit that is not possible for me.

18: But you had supported BJP earlier during elections?

Ramdev: That was a time of political crisis. Now I am Nirdaliya (Independent) but also Sarvadaliya (pro-all party). I will rise for the nation whenever the demand comes. The country is supreme for me. 

NITI Aayog’s draft bill empowers citizens to check doctors’ degrees

Manish Kumar

New Delhi, Aug 10: The NITI Aayog Wednesday released a draft bill christened draft National Medical Commission Bill 2016 which envisages repealing the current Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 which gives powers to the Medical Council of India (MCI) to regulate medical education in India. The move is likely to replace the MCI with the proposed National Medical Commision (NMC).

This comes after the widespread criticism of the workings of the MCI included in the 92nd Report of Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, presented to the Rajya Sabha  this year.

The Centre earlier had appointed a committee under the chairmanship of vice chairman of the NITI Aayog on March 28 this year.  The Committee, which included Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, CEO, NITI Aayog and Secretary, H&FW as members, was asked to examine all options for reforms in the Medical Council of India and suggest the way forward.

According to the draft bill, now an electronic medical registry must be prepared by the state medical councils under the proposed Board for Medical Registrations. The bill mandates that the data pertaining to the degrees of every doctor from every state must be maintained in the electronic system which could also be accessible to the public as well.

The draft bill meanwhile also bats for forming three different bodies like- under graduate board for medical education, post graduate board for medical education and a board for medical registration. The bill envisages a National Medical Commission which would regulate the medical education in the country with additional powers.

The bill also talks about forming a search-cum-selection committee which will be formed out of members from the NITI Aayog and members from the health and family welfare ministry pre-dominantly. However it talks about autonomy of the commission and different bodies formed under the law once it gets passed by the Parliament.

The draft bill envisages the National Medical Commission (NMC) to be headed by a deserving chairman from the field of health with ample experience in the field besides having a member secretary, eight ex-officio members and 10 part time members.

However, the Aayog seemed to have given more powers to the selection of the members of the NMC and also more representation of bureaucrats from central deputation rather than encouraging participation from states.

Niyamgiri protests in Orissa proved we can't always take unilateral decisions, says Sunita Narain

Sunita Narain, is a leading environmentalist from the country since 1980s and currently serving as the director general for the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. She was also recently ranked among the world’s 100 most influential people by the TIME magazine. In an interview with me, Narain speaks her heart out on several alarming issues. Excerpts from the interview:  

By-Manish Kumar

Your recent book titled ‘Why I should be tolerant’ has now hit the market. How an environmentalist turned into an author?

Sunita: This book is has in making since I joined CSE in early 1980s and started travelling to villages. The book is a learner's efforts to understand environment in India, and environmentalism of poor. Being the editor of Down To Earth (a magazine on environment), I regularly share my experiences/observations with readers. This book is an outcome of all these being put in one place with a central message: we need to be tolerant to be sensitive to environmental issues, affecting villages to global developments like negotiations on climate change. Recently the debate over environment has become very polarised; those who talk about environment has been termed as anti-development. On the other hand the rich countries in the world have already put off any discussions on compromising their emissions resulting from their life style to save the earth. They want the developing countries like India to also commit when they are the historic culprits. My book has come at this time just to make this public. 

You and CSE have often exposed major and rampant malpractices in food safety. Do you think after raising the issues like presence of pesticides in cold drinks, carcinogenic elements in breads among others brought tangible changes in terms of policy modification? 

Sunita: Yes, certainly.  There are quite a few policy level developments. For example, antibiotics are getting much more attention than earlier. We have standards for honey already, and other animal products are now the focus of food authority. Junk food availability at schools is to be regulated.  Energy drinks are now called caffeinated drinks. Stringent limits are set for Trans fats. Pesticide management has received greater attention. We have standards for its residues in packaged water and soft drinks. Even in the latest case of bread, the food authority declared to ban potassium bromate.   

Do you think after the formation of FSSAI, food regulation in the country has become more stringent and regulated?

Sunita: Our laws that regulate food have improved to a certain extent. Focus has shifted from adulteration to contamination. However, we are still far from global best practices in terms ensuring safe food. What is unfortunate is the inadequate implementation of those laws. We have limited infrastructure and resources to support it.

According to state-wise data, unlike other states Orissa food safety department fined only one defaulter against 112 detected cases of adulteration/misbranding in 2015. Do you think such lax attitude can give free hands to defaulters

Sunita: In general, provisions in law for heavy fines and stringent punitive measures are an important aspect of enforcement. It should act as a deterrent.   

Bhubaneswar has bagged the 1^st rank in the list of first 20 smart cities in India? How capable you think the city is to become smarter?

Sunita: I think being getting that rank, Bhubaneswar city has also the huge responsibility to define what is a ‘smart city’. Let's be clear, there is no agreed definition of a smart city. Very loosely it is seen as a settlement where technology is used to bring about efficiency in resource use and improvement in the level of services. All this is needed.  

Bhubaneswar doesn't seem to be different from other Indian cities in their enormous challenges of urbanisation. But before we can bring in smart technology, we need to know what to do with it. How do we build new cities and repair groaning urban settlements to provide clean water to all, to manage the growing mountains of garbage, to treat sewage before we destroy our rivers and to do something as basic as breathing without inhaling toxins? It can be done. Take water, sewage, mobility or air pollution. The current model of resource management, developed in rich Western cities, is costly. It cannot be afforded by all. Even these cities cannot rebuild the paraphernalia for providing services to their people. This system was built years ago, when the city had funds and grew gradually with recurring, high investment. Even if we were to build greenfield cities, we cannot wish for such investment. We need a new approach to humane urban growth. 

 The first principle in this is to accept that we have to renew what already exists. Take water, for example. Our cities have been built to optimise on the available resources. They were smart in building lakes and ponds to harvest every drop of rain. This ensured that the city recharged its water table and did not face floods every time it rained. We need to revive that system, Bhubaneswar has similar experiences with its urban water bodies. It may not be adequate to meet the growing needs of the city, but will cut costs by reducing the length of the pipeline and bring down distribution losses. Once we do this, we should add the smartest technology for measuring supply and for reducing demand. I can't judge whether Bhubaneswar is ready to hold this tag; but I can say for sure that the city has the opportunity to reinvent urbanisation and can emerge as an example. 

What are the major environmental problems Orissa in large and Bhubaneswar in general are facing which could prove as a hurdle to a sustainable city/state? 

Sunita: Orissa in general has all the environmental problems that haunt the whole country. The state faces regular disasters which anyway wouldn't have been around. But only if we could learn from our earlier experiences.  

Orissa is also known for mining. Some experts of mining claim that more mining could led to more dividend to states and Centre. Do you think this could really help the states or actually it could do more harm than good? 

Sunita: The hyped phase of targeting mining for prosperity is over; the state I am told is probing huge scandals over illegal mining and communities like in Niyamgiri have shown us that we can't take unilateral development decision. I don't have access to exact data to show whether mining has helped the state but my assessment is that the state in a wrong way pursued the agenda of mining that backfired. The state has lost the confidence of the local communities who inhabit the mining areas. 

Many states still grapple with paucity of energy despite some solutions like renewable sources of energy being now available. Do you think many states have failed to tap the power of renewable energy sources?

Sunita: You are correct in saying that India has a lot of untapped potential for renewable energy, but it would not be fair to say that the country is not developing these sources. Currently, India has an installed capacity of around 43 giga-watts(GW), out of which wind is around 27 GW and solar power around 7 GW. States like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra contribute the maximum to wind power development and Gujarat and Rajasthan lead the solar power capacity.  

As far as wind power development is concerned, it started to happen in late 90s and 2000s. This is reason for significant development in this sector. But the turbines installed at that time were shorter in height and lower in capacity, so the areas which had great wind potential, the turbines installed were of smaller capacity. Today with advancement of technology, we have single turbine with upto 3 mega-watts of capacity and have the opportunity to tap potential much better. 

Solar development started in India with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2010. So the development of 7 GW in a small period in itself is an achievement. But given the ambitious targets and huge amount of solar capacity in the pipeline, our capacity in solar is going to increase manifolds in the coming years. 

Is there any barrier in India in terms of geography/ cost factor when it comes to adopting to renewable sources of energy? Why the renewable sources of energy still not been utilised properly in the country in bigger ways.

Sunita: Cost of renewable energy has always been the major impediment for its development in the past. But the things are changing. Solar capital cost has reduced around 70 per cent in the last 6 years mainly due to cheap Chinese solar panels flooding the market and economies of scale achieved by increasing installation. The cost of generation has also fallen below Rs 5 per unit for solar projects, but it still has to prove its sustainability. 

Wind technology on the other hand is a fairly developed and matured technology. Innovations in the field have lead to increase in the estimates in potential. 

I think the premise itself that the renewable energy development is not happening in the country is not true. India has announced ambitious targets of 175 GW of renewable energy to be achieved by 2022. 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind power might look like a farfetched dream but the government has been supporting the sector in myriad of ways. Uday Scheme for financial restructuring of discoms, the draft electricity act, the draft renewable energy act, investments in green energy corridors are some of many initiatives by the government. 

Droughts often play havoc in the lives of farmers and many end their lives due to agranian issue. Do you think drought i.e an environmental condition ruins their lives or this is due to faulty policies? 

Sunita: Our magazine Down To Earth has many times reported drought and other disasters in the state. My assessment is that drought is not caused by deficit monsoon but a deficit planning to drought-proof the state has made the situation a crisis. With over 1300 mm annual rainfall, why a state should suffer from water scarcity.  It means the state has put in place the mechanism to harvest water. Orissa has a rich heritage of water harvesting; Kalahandi region used to be irrigated decades ago solely by traditional structures. But now you look at, the region has chronic drought with all the traditional structures being ignored. 

Also, deforestation causes water to run away faster; the traditional water harvesting structures would have helped in capturing this. 

Citizens of India have the right to know about PM Modi's degrees: Aruna Roy

By-Manish Kumar

RTI activist Aruna Roy was in the city Friday to participate in a convention on activism. In an exclusive interview , Roy discusses a wide range of issues ranging from free speech and RTI to other issues of national interest. Excerpts from the interview:

1) Orissa is one of the few states in the country that insists on ID-cards for RTI applicants and even the name of applicant’s spouse. What is your take on this practice?

Aruna: It is regressive and illegal. They cannot do such things. Asking for the identity of the applicant to prove one’s citizenship is unheard of in other parts of the country. If the law does not ask for this, how they can force the people to do this. However, despite such challenges RTI activism by the activists in Orissa is overwhelming. The number of people who filed RTI in India now has reached 80 lakh.

2) What should be done to discourage the practice?

Aruna: We need to fight it legally. I have also been told that some activists here have filed a petition before the court against the bad practice. If needed people should to go to the Supreme Court to undo such practices that pose hurdles in the smooth functioning of RTI.

3) Would you consider the JNU issue an attack on free speech?

Aruna: The issue at JNU was a sign that free speech was being curtailed. Beating student leader Kanhaiya Kumar on court premises and other related issues hint at such a move. If the students cannot express their views in colleges and universities, where else can they express them? Universities are meant to be platforms for free speech. Delhi University, Hyderabad Central University, Allahabad University all have faced some similar action.

4) Controversy relating to proof of degrees obtained by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now raging. Should such information be brought into the realm of RTI?

Aruna: Yes. The citizens of the country have all rights to know such information. But there is a general tendency among politicians to hide information from the public. Delhi University also cannot hide such information from the public. They ought to reveal it. Otherwise activists and public will escalate their activities in the days to come.

5) The Whistleblowers Bill meant to protect whistleblowers is still not in place. Do you doubt the intentions of the government on the issue?

Aruna: Whistleblowers’ bill was moved in parliament through an ordinance after much struggle. But the present government, instead of passing it, has sought more amendments. 

This raises doubts about the intention of the government in passing the bill. If the government does not cooperate, we will again hit the streets for the cause.

6) Although it has been a decade since the RTI Act was passed, several offices and officials still do not comply with its implementation. What is the solution?

Aruna: Many errant officials are unaware of the power of activism. Earlier, we had about 1 lakh RTI applicants. Now the number has escalated to 80 lakh. How can you lock horns with such a huge group that is fighting for transparency and rights. It is time for them to awaken.

7) You have also batted for the propagation of community radios? Have such systems caught on?

Aruna: Community radios have been facing many hurdles hampering their growth. Tougher licensing process and restrictions have taken a toll on them. 

Community radio offers great potential for addressing local issues locally but it is being put under control by the government.

Sahana, a potential tourist destination still unexplored by the Orissa government

By-Manish Kumar

Bhubaneswar, April 26: A long stretch of lake, complimenting mangrove plants on the banks, an array of red crabs on the lake side, a sea mouth and a wide stretch of beach reckon the elegant Sahana lake situated near Astarang in the Puri district, around 80 kms away from the state capital.

However despite the picturesque landscape carved out by the different natural resources and the perfect blend of the diverse flora and fauna, the site still lies undiscovered by the state tourism department. The beautiful tourist site which many claim could be a great alternative to Chilika and Bhitarkanika is still not declared as a potential tourist site by the state tourism department.

However undeterred by the apathy of the tourism department, for few of the people from the state who are versed with the virgin site, the venue offers a wide array of eye-catching alluring glimpses of the nature amid tranquility.

The site is however mostly ventured by the fishermen with their boats spreading their nets to catch fish for selling in the nearby markets. Only a couple of boats offer a ride to the site, which however still remains mostly untouched from the urban population due to non proximity of a highway nearby and its location which is now mostly debarred from a developed public transportation.

According to sources in the state tourism department a few members from the department has visited the site and taken stock of the situation, however not much have been done by the department to utilize the destination.

An official from the tourism department who visited the site said, “This has the potential to become a major tourist destination. This also offers the facility of a boat ride along the long stretch of the water body and also mangrove plants on the banks. This could be an alternative to Bhitarkanika minus crocodiles.”

However, the terrain en route to the destination from the nearby village could not be an ideal one for the vehicles to venture into. Lack of concrete roads to the site has barred the site from much human interface till now. Only a narrow kaccha road with trees along the road welcomes the few tourists who go there. However, in rainy season the roads are almost redundant for motor vehicles.

People who have been to the place still have their memories bound to their heart. Anjana Kalyani, a resident of Bhubaneswar said, “This is one of the best sites I have ever seen. It is still a virgin site as not many people have come here, so the natural beauty is intact here. However some issues like lack of a concrete road and transportation are still issues barring the exposure. I hope the government takes some steps to promote the site.”